Currency detectors



Jan. 4, 1966 D. J. scHEPr-'LIN CURRENCY DETECTORS l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 han INVENTOR. 0A N/EL. J. Jef/EPF L /N Filed Dec. 1. 1960 m77/ Arr'K D. J. SCHEPFLIN CURRENCY DETECTORS Jan. 4, 1966 Filed Dec. 1. 1960 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Jan. 4, 1966 D. J. scHEPFLlN CURRENCY DETECTORS 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. l. 1960 ATT'K Jan. 4, 1966 D. J. scHEPFLlN CURRENCY DETEGTORS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l. 1960 INVENToR.

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CURRENCY DETEGTORS Filed Dec. l. 1960 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 |35 134 135 faz f f 4 6 24 Bl 312 368 f 306 94 122 I n4 ,4 ,4o u* 4 IQ .V38

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10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

AN/L SCHEPFL /N .WN @hx ArrK D. J. SCHEPFLIN CURRENCY DETECTORS Jan. 4, 1966 10 Smeets-Sham'l 9 Filed Dec. l. 1960 Jan. 4, 1966 n. .1. scHEPFLlN CURRENCY DETECTORS 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed DeO. l. 1960 CD r` Vgl 7 m 0 M Ui l 0 f ik mmm #Omer INVEN TOR. DAN/EL J. SCHEPFL IN m. .UE

United States Patent O 3,227,256 CURRENCY DETECTORS Daniel J. Schepliin, St. Louis County, Mo., assiguor to National Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Dec. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 73,016 12 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) This invention relates to improvements in currency detectors. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency.

In the operation of apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency, it is desirable to make the introduction of each bill into the apparatus as simple and as easy as possible. Yet, it is vital that the apparatus keep a patron from withdrawing an inserted bill after that bill has initiated a vending or change-making operation. The present invention keeps a patron from withdrawing an inserted bill, from the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency, after that bill has initiated a vending or changemaking operation; and it does so by providing a positive, mechanical obstruction to the Withdrawal of that bill. That obstruction is readily moved out of the path of the bill as that bill moves forwardly through the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency; but thereafter it moves into position behind the trailing edge of that bill. In doing so, that obstruction squarely and positively keeps a patron from withdrawing that bill. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an obstruction that is readily moved out of the path of the bill as that bill moves forwardly through the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency; but that subsequently moves into position behind the trailing edge of that bill.

A switch is associated with the obstruction provided by the present invention, and that switch is in the vend circuit of the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency. As long as a bill holds that obstruction out of billobstructing position, that switch will interrupt the vend circuit and prevent the dispensing of the desired product or change. This means that not until after an inserted bill has passed beyond the obstruction can a vending or changemaking operation be initiated, and by that time the obstruction will be in position `behind the trailing edge of the inserted bill and will positively obstruct the withdrawal of that bill by a patron. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a switch that is associated with the obstruction provided by the present invention and that is in the vend circuit of the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency.

The obstruction provided by the present invention is pivoted; and when it is in bill-obstructing position it will incline away from the direction in which an inserted bill would have to move if it were to be withdrawn by a patron. As a result, any attempt' by a patron to Withdraw an inserted bill would jam the obstruction even more solidly into bill-obstructing position. It is therefore an object of the present invention to pivot a bill-obstructing element and to incline that element away from the direction in which an inserted bill would have to move if it were to be withdrawn by a patron.

The switch that is associated with the bill-obstructing element of the present invention is connected in the motor-reversing circuit, of the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency, by a second switch. That second switch is associated with a gate that senses for the presence of a thread, tape or other member which is attached to the bill. If that thread, tape or other member ICC is sturdy, that second switch will coaot with the switch that is associated with the bill-obstructing element to reversethe motor when the inserted bill moves that billobstructing member; but if that thread, tape or other member is very light, that second switch will coact with the switch that is associated with the bill-obstructing element to permit the bill to move beyond the bill-obstructing member. This interaction of these two switches is important because it reverses the motor and sends back any bill which has a thread, tape or other member attached to it which is sufficiently sturdy to enable ya patron t-o pull back any part of the inserted bill; and it permits a bill to pass beyond the bill-obstructing member where rt-he thread, tape or other member attached to that bill is so light that it could not tear the bill.

In the operation of apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency, a malfunctioning of some of the electrical components of that apparatus could keep the motor energized indefinitely. Any indefinite energization of the motor would be undesirable because the motor and various other moving components of the apparatus would be subjected to undesirable wear, and a bill held Within the apparatus device could be destroyed. The present invention obviates indefinite operation of the motor and of various other moving components, of the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency, by providing a time delay relay which will open the circuit to the motor after the mot-or has operated a pre-determined length of time.l

Further, that time delay relay will keep that` motor deenergized until a service manV has had a chance to check the apparatus for identifying authentic paper currency.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do n-ot limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a broken, plan view of onel embodiment of bill-transporting device that is made in` accordance with the principles and teachings ofthe present invention,

FIG. 2 is a broken, side elevational View of the embodi-Y ment Iof bill-transporting device shown in FIG. l, p

FIG. 3 is a broken, sectional view through the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. l', audit is taken along the plane indicated by t'heline 31-3 in' FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a few of the components of FIG. 3, it is taken along the plane indicated by the line is taken along the plane indicated by theline l5 5 in FIG. l,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, on a very large scale, through the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the' line 6 6 in FIG. 5, l

FIG. 7 is .a side elevational view of `the lower platen and associated partsused in the embodimentof billtransporting device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the platen and associated parts shown in FIG. 7,

FIG, 9 is a sectional view through the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. l, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 1,

of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. l, and it is FIG. 10is a sectional .view through the embodiment i 3 taken along the broken plane indicated by the line -10 in FIG. l,

FIG. 11 -is va plan View, on an enlarged scale, thr-ough the bracket which holds the mounting for the magnetic head of the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 12 is a sectional view, on a still larger scale, through the bracket of FIG. 11, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 12-12 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the rear plate of the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 14 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, through part of the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 14-14 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 15 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 14, through another part of the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 15-15 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a I -shaped bracket used in the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 17 is a partially-sectioned side view of the platens of the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1 after those platens have been rotated one hundred and eighty degrees about a vertical axis from the position shown by FIG. 2, and its shows the switches mounted on those platens,

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of part of the electrical circuit for the bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a further part of the electrical circuit for the bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the front plate of the bill-transporting device of FIG. 1 as it appears when the bill-supporting platform is removed,

FIG. 2l is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through a portion of the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. l, and

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the portion of the embodiment of bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 21.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 30 denotes a base for one embodiment of currency identication device that is made in accordance with the principles and teaching of the present invention. That base is generally rectangular in plan, and it has a stiiening flange that extends downwardly from the sides and ends thereof. That base has a large opening 31 therein, and that opening begins at a point about one third of the way toward the rear of that base, and that opening extends almost all the way to the rear of that base.

The numeral 32 denotes a vertically-directed plate which has a horizontally-directed ange at the bottom thereof; and that flange serves as a foot. As indicated particularly by FIG. 2, the foot of the plate 32 is secured to the base 30 adjacent the front edge of that base. A plate 34 of U-shaped configuration is disposed above the plate 32, and that plate lies in the same plane as the lower plate 32. The closed end of the U-shaped plate 34 rests on the top of the plate 32, and the arms of that plate project upwardly from the plate 32. A front plate 36 overlies the front face of the plate 34, and also projects downwardly beyond the bottom of that plate to overlie the front portion of the upper part of the plate 32. A horizontally-directed opening 38 is formed in the plate 36, and that opening is wide enough to accommodate a dollar bill when that bill is inserted lengthwise through that opening. Fasteners 40, shown in the form of machine screws, pass through openings adjacent the bottom of the front plate 36 and seat in threaded openings adjacent the upper end of the plate 32.

The numeral 42 denotes the rear plate for the embodiment of currency identification device shown by FIG. 1, .and that plate has a horizontaly-directed flange which acts as a foot. As indicated particularly by FIG. 2, the flange on the plate 42 is secured to the top of the base 30. The rear plate 42 is parallel to the plate 32, and it is in register with that plate. A U-shaped bracket 44 is suitably secured to the front face of the rear plate 42; and spot welds constitute a convenient way of securing that bracket to that plate. The upper right hand corner of the rear plate 42 is cut-away at 43, as shown particularly by FIG. 9.

The numeral 50 generally denotes a horizontally-directed platen which is disposed above and which is parallel to the hase 30. That platen has a downwardly-extending wall portion 52 at the front thereof; and that wall portion has a vertical flange 54 at one side thereof, has a centrally-located rectangular opening 58 extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof, and has a vertical ange 62 at the other side thereof. The flanges 54 and 62 act to stiffen the wall portion 52. The platen 50 has a flange 64 which extends downwardly from one of the elongated sides thereof, and that flange is contiguous with the vertical flange 62 and extends almost all the way to the rear edge of that platen. An elongated opening 66 is formed in the platen 50, and that opening is parallel to the flange 64. An opening 70 is provided in the platen 50 near the front of that platen, and that opening is shown as being rectangular in plan. A second elongated opening 72 is provided in the platen 50; and that opening is parallel to, and has the same length as, the opening 66. A ange 74 is formed at the other elongated side of the platen 50, and that ange extends downwardly to the level of the bottom edge of the flange 64. That flange is contiguous with the vertical flange 54 of the vertical wall portion 52, and it extends almost all the way to the rear edge of the platen 50. The flanges 64 and 74 reinforce and stiften the platen 50. A rectangular opening 76 is formed adjacent the rear edge of the platen 50, and that opening is intermediate the liange 64 and the elongated opening 66. A similar opening 78 is provided in the platen 50 adjacent the rear edge thereof, and that opening is intermediate the elongated opening 72 and the ange 74. The platen 50 terminates in a downwardly-inclined trailing edge 80. A notch 82 is formed in the trailing edge of the platen 50, and that notch extends inwardly beyond the downwardly-inclined trailing edge 80 of that platen. Similarly, a notch 84 is formed in the trailing edge of the platen 50, and that notch extends inwardly beyond the downwardly inclined trailing edge 80.

An opening 55 is formed in the platen 50 adjacent the front end of that platen. That opening is closely adjacent the wall portion 52, and it is circular in plan.

A short slot 56 is provided in the platen 50, and that slot is disposed between the elongated openings 66 and 72. The platen 50 will preferably be punched or pressed to provide a conical relief 61 at one end of the slot 56 and to provide a conical relief 63 at the other end of that slot, as shown particularly by FIG. 22.

A vertical plate 46, which has a foot-like flange, is secured to the lower face of the platen 50 by that flange. Spot welds can be used to secure that foot-like flange to the lower face of that platen. In addition, the plate 46 has an ear 47, and that ear will be suitably secured to the platen 50. Similarly, a vertical plate 48, which has a foot-like flange, is secured to the lower face of the platen 50 by that foot-like flange. In addition, the plate 48 has. an ear 49, and that ear is suitably secured to the platen 50. The ears 47 and 49 are spaced forwardly of the forward ends of the foot-like flanges on the plates 46 and 48, respectively; and those ears rigidly secure the forward ends of those plates to the platen 50. The foot-like anges on the plates 46 and 48 are shorter than those plates, as indicated particularly by FIG. 8. The plates 46 and 48 are parallel to each other, and they abut the adjacent edges of the elongated openings 66 and 72. The plates 46 and 48 are shorter than the elongated openings agar/',256

66 and 72; and those plates terminate short of the notches 82 and 84, respectively.

A short vertical plate 75 has a foot 77; and that foot is secured to the platen 50 by a fastener, such as a machine screw. The plate 75` is alined with the vertical plate 48; but it is spaced a short distance rearwardly of the trailing edge of that plate. The plate 75 extends to the rear edge of the platen 50. A short vertical plate 79 has a foot 81; and that foot is secured to the platen 50 by a fastener, such as a machine screw. The plate 79 is alined with the vertical plate 46; but it is spaced a short distance rearwardly of the trailing edge of that plate. The plate 79 extends to the rear edge of the platen 50. The space defined by the confronting edges of the plates 48 and 75 is in register with the space defined by the confronting edges of the plates 46 and 79.

A securing flange 86 is provided at the front of the plate 46, and a securing flange 88 is provided at the front of the plate 48. As indicated particularly by FIG. 8, those securing flanges are suitably secured to the rear face of the vertical wall portion 52 of the platen 50. The vertical plates 75 and 79 are secured to the U-shaped bracket 44 on the rear plate 42, as by fasteners 90; and since the plates 75 and 79 are xedly secured to the platen 50, the securement of those plates to the bracket 44 fixedly secures that platen 50 to the rear plate 42. The wall portion 52 at the front of the platen 50 is rigidly secured to the front plate 36 and to the U-shaped plate 34 by suitable fasteners. j

The numeral 94 generally denotes a horizontal platen that is substantially identical to the horizontal platen 50. The platen 94 has a wall portion 96 at the front thereof; but instead of extending downwardly from the plane of that platen, that wall portion extends upwardly from that plane. The wall portion 96 has a vertical flange 98 at one side thereof, has a centrally-located rectangular opening 100 extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, and has a vertical flange 102 at the other side thereof. The flanges 98 and 102 act to stiffen the wall portion 96 of platen 94. The platen 94 has a flange 104 which extends upwardly from one of the elongated sides thereof; and that flange is contiguous with the vertical flange 98. The flange 104 extends toward the rear of the platen 94, but it terminates at a point indicated by the numeral '105. An elongated opening 106, identical to the elongated opening 72, is formed in the platen 94; and that opening will be set in register with the elongated opening 66. An opening 110 is provided in the platen 94; and that opening is identical to, and will be set in register with, the opening 70 in the platen 50. A second elongated opening 112 is formed in the platen 94, and that opening is identical to the opening 66; and that opening will be set in register with the opening 72 in the` platen 50. A flange 114 is formed at the other elongated side of the platen 94, and that flange extend-s upwardly to the level of the upper edge of the flange 104. That flange is contiguous with the vertical flange 102 on the wall portion 96, and it extends almost all the way to the rear edge of the platen 94. The flanges 104 and 114 reinforce and siifen the platen 94. Openings 116 and 118 are provided in the platen 94 adjacent the rear thereof, and those openings are identical to the openings 76 and 78 in the platen 50. The opening 116 is in register with the opening 76 and the opening 118 is in register with the opening 78. The platen 94 is provided with an upwardly-inclined trailing edge 120; and notches 122 and 124 extend inwardly through that trailing edge and into the horizontally-directed portion of the platen 94.

An opening 123 is formed in the platen 94 adjacent the front end of that platen. That `opening is closely adjacent the Wall portion 96, and it is circular in plan.

A short slot 111 is provided in the platen 94, and that slot is disposed between the elongated openings 106 and 112. The platen 94 will preferably be punched or pressed to provide a conical relief 113 at one end of the slot 111 6. and to provide a conical relief at the other end of that slot, as shown particularly by FIG. 22.

The numeral 126 denotes a vertical plate which has a foot-like flange, and that flange is secured to the upper face of the platen 94. That plate also has an ear and a securing flange, not shown, that are identical to the ear 49 and the securing flange 88 of the vertical plate 48. The numeral denotes a second vertical plate which has a foot-like flange; and that flange also is secured to the upper face of the platen 94. That plate has an ear and a securing flange, not shown, that are identical to the ear 47 and the securing flange 86 of the vertical plate 46. The vertical plates 126 and 130 are disposed in parallel to each other, and they abut the adjacent edge-s of the elongated openings 106 and 112, respectively, in the platen 94. The vertical plates 126 and 130 are shorter than the elongated openings 106 and 112; and those plates terminate short of the notches 122 and 124, respectively.

A short vertical plate 128 has a foot formed on it; and that foot is secured to the platen 94 by a fastener, such as a machine screw. The plate 128 is alined with the vertical plate 126; but it is spaced a short distance rearwardly of the trailing edge of that plate. The plate 128 extends to the rear edge of the platen 94. A short vertical plate 132 has a foot formed on it; and that foot is secured to the platen 94 by a fastener, such as a machine screw. The plate 132 is alined with the vertical plate 130; but it is spaced a short distance rearwardly of the trailing edge of that plate. The plate 132 extends to the rear edge of the platen 94. The space defined by the confronting edges of the plates 126 and 128 is in register with the space defined by the confronting edges of the plates 130 and 132.

The securing flanges at the leading edges of the vertical plates 126 and 130 are suitably secured to the rear face of the vertical wall portion 96 of the platen 94. That vertical wall portion is suitably secured to the front plate 36 and to the arms of the U-shaped plate 34 by suitable fasteners; and hence the platen 94 and the vertical plates 126 and 130 thereon are xedly secured to the front plate 36. Fasteners 135 secure the short vertical plates 128 and 132 to a U-shaped bracket 134 that is spot welded to the front face of the rear plate 42. In this way the platen 94 and the short vertical plates 128 and 132 thereon are fixedly secured to the rear plate 42.

The platens 50 and 94 fxedly and rigidly hold the upper end of the rear plate 42 in spaced relation to the front plate 36. In doing so, they coact with the base 30 i to provide a light-weight but rigid frame for the billtransporting device of' FIG. 1. To minimize the flow of magneto-electric currents through that frame, the platens or the front plate or the rear plate or the base should be made of a non-magnetic material.

The rear plate 42 has a generally H-shaped opening 136 therein. However, the cross bar of that opening extends outwardly beyond the vertical portions of that opening, as shown particularly by FIG. 13. That cross bar is dimensioned to accommodate an inserted bill when that bill is moved through that cross bar in a direction which is parallel to the elongated axis of that bill. The cross bar of the H-shaped opening 136 in the rear plate 42 is in direct alignment with the opening 38 in the front plate 36; and that cross bar and the opening 38 are in register with the space intermediate the upper surface of platen 50 and the lower surface of platen 94.

The numeral 138 denotes a guide plate which is mounted intermediate the upper surface of platen 50 and the lower surface of platen 94. That guide plate is as long as the platens 50 and 94, but it is much narrower. Specifically, the guide plate 138 is narrower than that portion of the platen 50 which is intermediate the elongated opening 72 and the flange 74. One of the elongated sides of the guide plate 138 is in register with that side of platen 50 which has the flange 74 thereon; and, the other elongated side of that guide plate is spaced from the adjacent edge of the elongated opening 72. An opening 139 is provided in the guide plate 138, and that opening is in register with the openings 78 and 118 in the platens 50 and 94, respectively; all as shown by FG. l0. A second guide plate 140, which is identical to the guide plate 138, is also disposed intermediate the upper surface of the platen 50 and the lower surface of the platen 94. That guide plate has one of the elongated sides thereof in register with that side of the platen 50 which has the horizontal ange 64 thereon, and that guide plate has the other elongated side thereof spaced from the opening 66. The confronting elongated sides of the guide plates 138 and 140 are spaced apart a distance just slightly greater than the height of a bill. The guide plate 140 has an opening 141 therein, and that opening is in register with the openings 76 and 120 in the platens 50 and 94, respectively; all as shown by FIG. l0.

The space between the confronting edges of the vertical plates 126 and 128 and the space between the confronting edges of the vertical plates 130 and 132 are spanned by a U-shaped plate 146. That U-shaped plate abuts the confronting faces of the plates 126 and 130 and also abuts the faces of the plates 128 and 132; and that U- shaped plate is xedly secured to those plates by fasteners, such as screws and nuts. That U-shaped plate helps hold the plate 128 in alignment with the plate 126 and helps hold the plate 132 in alignment with the plate 130.

The space between the confronting edges of the plates 48 and 75 and the space between the confronting edges of the plates 46 and 79 are spanned by a heavy-walled gear housing 142; all as shown by FIG. 10. That gear housing abuts the confronting faces of the plates 48 and 46 and also abuts the faces of the plates 75 and 79; and that gear housing is iixedly secured to those plates by fasteners, such as machine screws. That gear housing helps hold the plate 75 in alinement with the plate 48 and helps hold the plate 79 in alinement with the plate 46. The sides of that gear housing having openings 143 therein, and the bottom of that housing has an opening 144 therein.

The numeral 148 denotes a J-shaped bracket which has a frusto-triangular closed end; and the short arm of that bracket is at the widest portion of that closed end. Similar I-shaped brackets are denoted by the numerals 150, 152 and 154. Each of the J-shaped brackets 148, 150, 152 and 154 has horizontal slots 156 in the short arm thereof, and those slots are parallel to the closed ends of those brackets. The long arms of the J-shaped brackets 148, 150, 152 and 154 have vertically-directed notches 158 therein, as shown particularly by FIG. 16. The horizontal slots 156 in the short arms of the I -shaped brackets 148 and 150 accommodate the fasteners that secure the U-shaped plate 146 to the plates 126, 128, 130 and 132. The horizontal slots in the short arms of the I -shaped brackets 152 and 154 accommodate the fasteners which secure the gear housing 142 to the plates 46, 48, 75 and 79. The horizontal slots 156 permit limited movement of the J-shaped brackets 148, 150, 152 and 154 relative to the vertical plates 46, 48, 75, '79, 126, 128, 130 and 132 to permit the vertically-directed notches 158 of those brackets to be placed in register with the spaces defined by the confronting ends of plates 48 and 75, of plates 46 and 79, of plates 126 and 128, and of plates 130 and 132. The long arms of the J-shaped brackets 148 and 150 extend toward but terminate short of the upper surface of platen 94, and the long arms of the J- shaped brackets 152 and 154 extend toward but terminate short of the lower surface of the platen 50. Suitable bushings 160 are mounted within the notches 158 of the J-shaped brackets 148, 150, 152 and 154; and the bushings 160 in the notches of I -shaped brackets 148 and 150 rotatably support a shaft 162. Timing belt pulleys 164 are xedly secured to that shaft, and those pulleys will be in register with the elongated openings 106 and 112 in the platen 94. A spur gear 166 is fixedly secured to one end of the shaft 162; and a ratchet-faced clutch member 168 is secured to the shaft 162 intermediate the other end of that shaft and the bushing which supports that other end of that shaft. A ratchet-faced clutch member 170 rotates freely on the shaft 162, and the ratchet-face of that clutch member confronts and can engage the ratchet face of the clutch member 168. A large diameter pulley 172 is mounted on and supported by the shaft 162, adjacent the said other end of that shaft; but that pulley is free to rotate relative to that shaft. A knurled hand wheel 174 is xedly secured to the said other end of the shaft 162, and that hand wheel can be used to effect rotation of the shaft 162 whenever desired. A helical spring 1'76 is telescoped over the said other end of the shaft 162, and one end of that spring is seated in a socket in the clutch member 170 while the other end of that spring is seated in a socket in the large diameter pulley 172. That spring is wound in such a way that it will tend to wind tightly if the large diameter pulley 172 is held stationary while the shaft 162 rotates in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 2.

The numeral 178 denotes a shaft which is held by the bushings 160 that are disposed within the vertical notches 158 of the J-shaped brackets 152 and 154. That shaft is located below the level of, and in vertical registry with, the shaft 162; and that shaft extends through the openings 143 in the gear housing 142. The shaft 178 has timing belt pulleys 180 fixedly secured thereto, and those pulleys are in register with the elongated openings 66 and 72 in the platen 50. A spur gear 182 is mounted on one end of the shaft 178, and that gear meshes with the spur gear 166 on the one end of the shaft 162. A worm wheel 184 is mounted on the shaft 178, and that gear is disposed within the gear housing 142. That worm wheel meshes with, and is driven by, a worm gear 186 which is mounted on the shaft of a motor 188. That motor shaft is vertically directed, and it extends upwardly through the opening 144 in the bottom of the gear housing 142. The motor 188 is suitably secured to, and it depends downwardly from, the gear housing 142. That motor is long enough to extend down into the large opening 31 in the base 30, but it is short enough so it does not extend down below the level of the lower edges of the flanges on that base.

The motor 188 is a reversible motor; and it is preferably a two phase motor. A capacitor 19t) is connected in series with the phase winding of motor 188, and that capacitor is mounted on a bracket adjacent the motor 188. That bracket is secured to, and depends downwardly from, the vertical plates 46 and 48. That bracket also supports a multi-prong connector and the various electrical components of the bill-transporting device of FIG. l are connected to appropriate prongs of that connector.

The numeral 191 denotes a U-shaped bracket which is disposed between the vertical plates 46 and 48 on the platen 50; and the arms of that bracket abut the confronting faces of those plates. As shown by FIG. 3, that bracket is close to the front of the platen 50; and that bracket supports bushings which accommodate a horizontally-directed pivot 192. That pivot has timing belt pulleys 194 rotatably mounted thereon, and those pulleys are in register with the elongated openings 66 and 72 in the platen 50.

The numeral 196 denotes a U-shaped bracket which is disposed between the vertical plates 126 and 130; and that bracket is narrower than the space between those plates. A pivot 198 extends between and is supported by the vertical plates 126 and 130; and that pivot extends through the arms of the U-shaped bracket 196. As a result, that bracket can rotate about that pivot and thus can rotate relative to the plates 126 and 130. A pivot 200 extends between and is secured to the vertical plates 126 and 130 at a point above the top of the bracket 196;

9 Y and springs 208 are wound around the pivot 198 and have the upper ends thereof bearing against the pivot 200 while having the lower ends thereof bearing` against the closed end of the bracket 196. Those springs bias the bracket 196 for rotation in the counter clockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 4 and thus bias that bracket toward the lowered position shown by FIG. 4. However, those springs can yield to permit the Ulshaped bracket 196 to rotate to the raised position shown by FIG. 3.

The leading edges of the U-shaped brackets 191 and 196 are cutaway where those leading edges are adjacent the openings 55 and 123. As a result, light can pass uninterruptedly through the openings 55 and 123 until a bill is inserted between the platens 50 and 94.

The bracket 196 carries bushings which support an elongated pivot 202. The ends of that pivot extend through openings in the vertical plates 126 and 130; and those openings are considerably larger than the diameter of the pivot 202. As a result, the U-shaped bracket 196 can rotate a limited number of degrees about the pivot 198 without having the pivot 202 engage the openings in the plates 126 and .130.

The bushings which are carried by the U-shaped bracket 196 also support a U-shaped bracket 206. The latter bracket is narrower than the bracket 196; and hence the bracket 206 can be disposed between the arms of the bracket 196. The bracket 206 rotates about the pivot 202 and thus can rotate relative to the bracket 196; and the bracket 206 can have the right-hand edge of the bottom thereof abutting the closed end of bracket 196, as shown by FIG. 3, or can have that right-hand edge disposed a short distance above that closed end, as shown by FIG. 4. Whenever the bracket 206 has the right-hand edge of the bottom thereof disposed a short distance above the closed end of the bracket 196, the springs 208 will move the bracket 196 to the lowered position shown by FIG. 4. However, when the right-hand edge of the bottom of the bracket 206 is in engagement with the closed 'end of the bracket 196, and when the bracket 206 is then rotated in the -clockwise direction, the bracket 196 will be moved to the raised position shown by FIG. 3. As a result, the bracket 206 can be used to effect raising of the left-hand end of the bracket 196, and thus to eiect the raising of the pivot 202. The U-shaped bracket 206 has an upwardly-projecting arm 207 and `that arm can be moved to the right in FIG. 4 to rock the brackets 206 and 196 from the positions shown in FIG. 4 to the positions shown by FIG. 3.

Timing belt pulleys 204 are rotatably mounted on the outer ends of the pivot 202; and those pulleys will move up and down as the brackets 206 and 196 raise and lowery The pulleys 204 are mounted in register v with the elongated openings 106 and 112 in the platen 94.

The numeral 210 denotes a mounting bracket that is the pivot 202.

secured to, but is laterally spaced from, the vertical plate 126; and that mounting plate projects upwardly above the top of the plate 126. A horizontally-directed pivot 212 is supported by the mounting bracket 210; and a lever 224 is rotatably mounted on that pivot. A connecting rod 214 extends between the upwardlyextending arm 207 of the bracket 206 and the lower end of the lever 224; and pin joints 216 and 218 connect that rod with that upwardly-projecting arm and with that lever, respectively. The connecting rod 214 extends to the right beyond the lower end of the lever 224, as shown particularly by FIG. 2; and the right-hand end of that rod has an opening in which one end of a helical extension spring 222 is hooked. The other end of that spring is hooked around a pin 220 which is secured to the mounting bracket 210.

The lever 224 has a slot 226 in the upper end thereof, and that slot accommodates a pin which is carried by the plunger 228 of a solenoid 230. That solenoid is suitably and that solenoid can be energized to retract the plunger 10 228 and thereby rotate the lever 224 a distance in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2. A switch 232 is suitably secured to the mounting bracket 210; and the actuator 234 of that switch extends into a hole in the connecting rod 214.

The spring 222 normally holds the connecting rod 214, the lever 224, and the plunger 228 in the positions shown by FIG. 2; and, in doing so, that spring normally holds the -bracket 206 in the position shown by FIG. 3. This means that under normal conditions the spring causes the bracket 206 to hold the bracket 196 and the pivot 202 in their raised positions. The force of the spring 222 will be overcome by the solenoid 230 whenever the latter is energized; and hence that solenoid can cause the bracket 206 to rotate to the position shown by FIG. 4. As that bracket so rotates, it will enable the springs 208 to lower the bracket 196 and the pivot 202 to the positions shown by FIG. 4. The energizati-on 4of the solenoid 230 will also cause the connecting rod 214 to move the actuator 234 far enough to close the cont-acts of'the normally-open switch 232.

The numeral 2-36 denotes a bracket which is secured to, and which spans the space between, the vertical plates 126 and 130. That bracket has downwardly depending legs 238 which Iare spaced apart; and those legs have slots 240 therein. Those .slots accommodate projections 243 on a mounting 242 for a magnetic head 244; and those slots and those projections guide the vertical movement of that mounting. A helical compression spring 246 biases the mounting 242, and thus the magnetic head 244, downwardly relative to the bracket 236; and hence that spring biases that head downwardly relative to the platen 94. However, the spring 246 cam yield to permit upward movement of the mounting 242 and of the magnetic head 244. An adjusting screw 248 has the shank thereof passing through 'a threaded opening in the bracket 236, through the spring 246, and through an opening in the mounting 242. A washer is secured to the lower end of the screw 248; and that washer prevents accidental separation of the mounting 242 from the screw 248. A nut 250 is carried by the adjusting screw 248, and that nut can be used to lock that screw in position relative to the bracket 236. However that nut can be loosened to permit rotation, and thus verti-cal movement, of the screw 248 relative to the bracket 236. That vertical movement xes the normal position of the magnetic head 244 relative to the platen 94.

The numeral 252 denotes a socket which can receive a connector that will serve to connect the magnetic head 244 into a suitable circu-it. That socket is mounted on the bracket 236, and it is connected to the magnetic head 244 by two short wires. Those wires are readily iiexible so they can permit movement of the magnetic head 244 relative to the platen 94.

The numeral 260 generally denotes ya bracket that is L-shaped in conguration, as shown by FIG. 6. That bracket has a long horizontally-directed arm and has a` short vertically-directed arms and both of those arms have openings therein. The horizontally-directed arm also has leading and trailing edges 264 that incline upwardly from the pl-ane of that arm. A ha-rdened face plate 268 is suitably .secured to the horizontally-directed arm of the bracket 260; and that hardened fac-e plate is strongly resistant to wear. That face plate underlies part of that horizontally-directed arm and also underlies the upwardly inclined leading and trailing edges 264. That face plate also has a downwardly depending li-p 266; and that lip will confront the innermost edge of one of the timing belts used in the bill-transporting device of FIG. l.

A number of L-shaped brackets 260 are provided; and the long arms of those brackets are secured to the pl-atens 94 and 50, and the short arms of those brackets are secured to the vertical plates 126, 130, 46 and 48. As

` indicated particularly by FIG. l, the brackets 260 which are secured to the platen 94 are grouped in pairs that are spaced along the length of that platen, and the brackets of each pair are set opposite each other. Similarly, the brackets 260 which are secured to the platen 50 are grouped in pairs that are spaced along the length of that platen, land the brackets of each pair are set opposite each other. However, the pairs of brackets 260 which are secured to the platen 94 are displaced from the pairs of brackets 260 which are secured to the platen 50, all as shown by FIG. 5.

The numeral 270 denotes timing belts which extend around and are supported by the timing belt pulleys 204 and 164. IThe numeral 272 denotes timing belts which extend around and are supported by the timing belt pulleys 194 and 180. The timing belts 270 are mounted so the ribs thereon engage and pass under the hardened face plates 268 of the brackets 260 which are supported by the platen 94. The timing belts 272 are mounted so the ribs thereon engage and pass over the hardened face plates 268 of the brackets 260 which are supported by the platen 50. The h-ardened face plates 268 of the brackets 260 carried by the platen 50 define a horizontally-directed plane, and the hardened face plates 268 of the brackets 260 carried by the platen 94 define a second horizontally-defined plane; and the vertical distance between those two planes is less than twice the thickness of any of the timing belts 270 and 272. As a result, the timing belts 270 and 272 must bow downwardly to pass under the hardened face plates 268 of the brackets 260 secured to the platen 94 and must bow upwardly to pass over the hardened face plates 268 of the brackets 260 secured to the platen 50. The downward and upward bowing of the timing belts will alternate and will force those belts to undulate yas they move relative to the platens 50 -and 94. This undulation is very desirable because it recurrently forces the confronting faces of the timing belts 270 and 272 into intimate engagement with a bill interposed between those faces. If desired, rollers could be used instead of the brackets 260. However, while rollers would reduce the frictional forces applied to the timing belts 270 and 272, those forces have not been found to be particularly objectionable.

The timing belts 270 and 272 will be driven by the timing belt pulleys 164 and 180 mounted on the shafts 162 and 178, respectively. The shaft 178 will be directly driven by the motor 188, and the spur gears 182 and 166 will enable that shaft to drive the shaft 162. The gears 1-82 and 166 are important in keeping the belts 270 and 272 moving `in synchrony with each other.

The numeral 274 denotes `a switch that has an arcuate actuator 276. That switch is secured to the platen 50 adjacent the front of that platen, and the actuator of that switch extends upwardly into the openings 72 and 112. In doing so, that actuator extends into the path of movement of any bill that is inserted within the bill-transporting device of FIG. 1. The actuator 276 is immediat-ely adjacent the belts 272 and 270 which are disposed within the openings 72 and 112, and hence the portion of the leading edge of the inserted bill which engages that actuator will be fully and completely supported by those belts. As `a result, that portion of that leading edge will be able to resist any tendency to crumple or roll up as it engages `and moves the actuator 276. The lactuator 276 extends toward the wall portions S2 and 96, respectively, of the platens 50 and 94; and, consequently, that actuator w-ill be engaged and moved by an inserted bill yalmost as soon as the leading edge of that bill passes inwardly beyond those wall portions.

The numeral 278 denotes a switch that has an arcuate actuator 280. That switch is secured to the platen 94 adjacent the front of that platen; and the actuator of that switch extends downwardly into the openings 106 and 66. In doing so, that actuator extends into the path of movement of any bill that is linserted within the billtransporting device of FIG. l. The actuator 280 is irnrnediately adjacent the belts 270 and 272 which are disposed within the openings 106 and 66; and hence the portio-n of the leading edge of the inserted bill which engages that actuator will be fully and completely supported by those belts. The actuator 280 extends toward the wall portions 52 and 96 of the platens 50 and 94 and will thus be engaged by an inserted bill almost as soon as the leading edge of that bill passes inwardly beyond those wall portions. The actuator 276 of the switch 274 and the actuator 280 of the switch 278 will be engaged by an inserted bill at about the same time where that inserted bill is intact and the corners thereof are not folded. However, if a corner of the inserted bill has been torn olf or has been folded, one of those actuators will be engaged and moved before the other actuator is engaged and moved. To make certain that the presence of an inserted bill is sensed promptly, the switches 274 and 278 are connected in parallel, as shown by FIG. 18. This means that a closed circuit will be established almost as soon as the inserted bill passes inwardly beyond the wall portions 52 and 94, respectively, of the platens 50 and 94; and that closed circuit will be established by one or the other or both of switches 274 and 278.

The numeral 282 denotes a switch that has an arcuate actuator 284. That switch is secured to the platen 50 about one quarter of the distance toward the rear of that platen, and the actuator 284 extends upwardly into the openings 106 and 66. That actuator is immediately adjacent the belts 270 and 272 which are disposed within those openings, and those belts will give full and cornplete support to the leading edge of any inserted bill. The actuator 284 extends rearwardly; and that actuator is thus, in part at least, disposed rearwardly of the actuator 280.

The numeral 286 denotes a switch that has an arcuate actuator 288. That switch is secured to the platen 50 at a point about one half of the distance toward the rear of that platen, and the actuator 288 extends upwardly into the opennigs 112 and 72. That actuator is immediately adjacent the belts 270 and 272 which are disposed within those openings, and those belts will give full and complete support to the leading edge of any inserted bill. The actuator 288 extends forwardly toward the front plate 36; and an inserted bill will engage that actuator while that bill is still engaging and holding the actuators 276 and 280 of the switches 274 and 278.

The numeral 290 denotes a swtich that has an arcuate actuator 292. That switch is secured to the platen 50 at a point which is just `a little further toward the rear of that platen than is the point at which the switch 286 is secured to that platen. The actuator 292 extends upwardly into the openings 106 and 66, and it extends rearwardly from that switch. That actuator is immediately adjacent the belts 270 and 272 which are disposed within the openings 106 and 66, and those belts will give full and complete support to the leading edge of any inserted bill.

The numeral 294 denotes a switch that has an arcuate actuator 296. That switch is secured to the platen 50 adjacent the rear of that platen, and the actuator of that switch extends into the openings 106 and 66. The actuator 296 extends rearwardly toward the rear of the platen 50, and it extends between the shafts 162 and 178. That actuator is immediately adjacent the belts 270 and 272 which are disposed within the openings 106 and 66, and those belts will give full and complete support to the leading edge of any inserted bill.

The numeral 298 denotes a switch that has an arcuate actuator 300. That switch is secured to the platen 94 adjacent the rear of that platen, and the actuator of that switch extends into the openings 112 and 72. The actuator 300 extends rearwardly toward the rear of the platen 94, and it extends between the shafts 162 and 178. That actuator is immediately adjacent the belts 270 and 272 which are disposed within the openings 112 and 72, and those belts will give full and complete support to the leading edge of any inserted bill.

. 13 The actuators 296 and 300 are o-pposite each other, and they will be engaged by the leading edge of an inserted bill at `about the same time. Further, those actuators extend as close to the rear edges of the platens 50 and 94 as is practicable; and hence an inserted bill will hold those actuators in moved position until that bill has passed almost all the way through the opening 136 in the rear plate 42. p

The arcuate actuators 276, 280, 284, 288, 292, 296 and 300 are bent to have large radii of curvature. Such large radii are desirable for two reasons: rst, they enable those actuators to simulate shallow inclined planes and thus enable those actuators to move easily when they are engaged by the leading edge of an inserted bill; and second, they enable each of those actuators to maintain contact with the inserted bill throughout an appreciable portion of the path of movement of that bill.

Stops 302 are provided for some of the switch actuators, and those stopswill be secured to the vertical plates 46, 48, 126 and 130 by machine screws or other suitable fasteners. These stops will limit the extent to which those lactuators project through the openings 66, 72, 106 and 112. Those stops have slots 304 therein, and those slots permit adjustments in the positions of those stops relative to the vertical plates 66, 72, 106 and 112. As a result, those stops facilitate the making of adjustments in the normal positions of the switch actuators.

The numeral 306 denotes a bearing bracket which is secured to the platen 94 adjacent the rear of that platen. That bracket is intermediate the opening 118 and the upwardly inclined trailing ed-ge 120 of that platen. That bearing bracket suitably supports a bushing 310 which accommodates and rotatably supports one end of a shaft 308. `A bushing 312 is carried by the vertical plate 128, and thatbushing rotatably supports the other end of the shafti'308.` That shaft has soft-faced rollers 314 xedly secured thereto, and those rollers rotate with that shaft. The soft-faced rollers are immediately adjacent the outer faces of the vertical plates 128and 132; and parts of those rollers extend into the opening 136. A small diameterV pulley 316 is xedly secured to and rotatable with the sha-ft 308,` and that pulley is in alinerrient with the large diameter pulley 172 that is loosely mounted on and carried by the shaft 162. An endless belt 318 extends around and is supported by the large diameter pulley 172 and by the small diameter pulley 316.

'Ifhe vertical plates 75 and 79 support bushings 317, andthose bushings rotatably support a shaft 319. That shaft` is located below the level of, and is in vertical registry with, the shaft 308. Soft-faced rollers 321 are secured to and rotatable with the shaft 319; and those rollers engage and are driven by the soft-faced rollers 314 which rotate with the shaft 308. The diameters of the soft-faced rollers 314 and 321 are so large that the confronting faces of those rollers always abut and slightly deform each other.

The numeral 320 denotes aU-shaped bracket which is disposed between, and is secured to, the plates 46 and 48; and that bracket is disposed adjacent the front ends of those plates. A pivot 322 is supported by that bracket, anda carrier 323 is rotatably mounted on that pivot. That carrier is generally U-shaped; and that carrier supports a `pivot 324. A soft-faced roller 326 is rotatably mounted on that pivot, and that softfaced roller can be moved toward and away from the bottom face of the magnetic head 244 by appropriate rotation of the carrier 323.

A pin joint 328 is provided at the bottom of the carrier 323, and that pin joint is connected to one end of a connecting rod 334. The other end of that connecting rod is secured to the plunger 332 of a solenoid 330. That solenoid is xedly secured to a small plate 331 which, in turn, is ixedly secured to the vertical plate 48; and the plate 331 extends downwardly from the plate 48.

The numeral 336 denotes a horizontal platform which projects outwardly from the front face 36 of the currency identiiication device, and that platform serves to support a bill which is to be tested by that device. A bracket 338 of attractive appearance surrounds and helps support the platform 336; and the upper edges of that bracket project upwardly beyond the upper face of that platform. Those edges help a patron aline a bill with the opening 38 in the front plate 36, and they also make certain that the patron will move the leading edge of that bill far enough through that opening to be intermediate the leading edges of the belts 270 and 272.

The numeral 370 denotes a gate which is generally fiat but which has a horizontally-directed ear 372 adjacent the top thereof. That gate is thinner than the U- shaped plate 34, and that gate is narrower than the horizontal distance between the upstanding arms of that plate. As a result, that gate can fit within the space dened by the arms by and the closed end of the U-shaped plate 34. The wall portion 96 of the platen 94 overlies part of the rear face of that gate but does not obstruct movement of that gate; and the front plate 36 overlies substantially all of the front face of that gate but does not obstruct movement of that gate. As a result, the gate 370 is held in a vertical position by, but is free to move vertically relative to, the front plate 36 and the wall portion 96 of the platen 94.

The gate 370 has an opening 374 therein, and that opening is made wide enough to accommodate a bill when that bill has its long axis perpendicular to the plane of that gate. That opening will normally be set in register with the opening 38 in the front plate 36, as shown by FIG. 14; but that opening can be moved downwardly out of register with the opening 38, as shown by FIG. 15..

A switch 362 is mounted on the platen 94 adjacent the front of that platen, and the actuator 364 of that switch extends to, and is hooked through, an opening in the eark 372 on the gate 370. Whenever the gate 370 is in the raised position shown by FIG. 14, the movable contact of that switch will engage the fixed contact of that switch, as shown by FIG. l8; but whenever that gate is in the lowered position shown by FIG. l5, that movable contact will be spaced away from that fixed contact.

A solenoid 344 is supported on and carried by the mounting bracket 210; and, as shown by FIG. l, that solenoid is at one face of that bracket while the switch 232 is at the other face of that bracket. The plunger 346 of the solenoid 344 is disposed adjacent the upper end of a rocker arm 350 which is rotatably supported by a pivot 348 that is carried by the mounting bracket 210. The upper end of that rocker arm is rotatably secured to the plunger 346 by a pin joint 349; and the lower end of that rocker arm is secured to one end of a connecting rod 352 by a pin joint 351.

The other end of that connecting rod is connected to an ear on a bracket 354 by means of a pin joint 355. That bracket is rotatably mounted on the pivot 200 which is held by the vertical plates 126 and 130; and that bracket has an extension 353 which underlies the ear 372 on the gate 370. A helical extension spring 356 has one end thereof hooked through an opening in the bottom of the rocker arm 350 and has the other end thereof hooked around a pin 357 that is secured to the mounting bracket 210. That spring 356 urges the rocker arm 350 for rotation in the counter clockwise direction, and also urges the connecting rod 352 for movement to the right, in FIG. 2. Such movement of that connecting rod will rotate the U- shaped bracket 354 to the dotted-line, raised position of FIG. l5. However, that spring can yield to permit that bracket to move to the solid-line, lowered position in FIG. 15. When the bracket 354 is in its raised position it will hold the ear 372 of the gate 370 up against the adjustable stop 360, shown in the form of a machine screw. That stop is suitably held by a bracket 361 which is secured to and supported by the vertical plate 130. A nut 363 can be tightened against the bracket 361 to prevent rotation' of the stop 360, and thus prevent accidental shifting of the vertical position of that stop. When the bracket 354 is in its lowered position, the gate 370 will be free to move downwardly and sense for the presence or absence of a thread, tape or other member attached to the inserted bill.

The bracket 361 is L-shaped, and. it has an opening in the horizontally-directed portion at the top thereof. That opening is in vertical registry with the openings 55 and 123, respectively, in the platens 50 and 94; and it also is in vertical registry with the cut-away portions of the U-shaped brackets 191 and 196. Further, that opening will be in vertical registry with a cut-away portion of the ear 372 on the gate 370 and with a cut-away portion of the extension 353 on the bracket 354. A lamp 366 is mounted within the opening in the bracket 361, and a light-sensitive cell 368 is mounted below, but in register with, the opening 55 in the platen 50. As a result, alight beam from that lamp will normally strike that lightsensitive cell. That cell is of the type which constitutes a low resistance when light is striking it but that constitutes a high resistance when light does not strike it.

The numeral 426 in FIG. 19 denotes a unit which includes a tuned amplifier and a control element; and that unit can be identical to the similarly-numbered unit disclosed in copending Smith et al. application Serial No. 849,066 for Currency Detectors which was filed on October 27, 1959. The numeral 428 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 438, 439 and 440, the numeral 446 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 442 and 444, the numeral 462 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 454, 456, 458 and 460, and the numeral 476 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 470, 472 and 474. Those relays are part of a relay chain which is similar to a relay chain, in the said copending Smith et al. application, that has similarly-numbered relays. The numeral 520 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 522, 524 and 526, the numeral 528 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 530, 532 and 534, the numeral 544 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 550, 552, 554, 556, 558, 560, 562, 564 and 566, and the numeral 578 denotes the coil of a relay that has contacts 584, 586 and 588. The parts of the circuit shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 are interconnected by the conductors 452, 490, 436, 434, 429, 594, 496, 500, 498, 604, 596, 592 and 602. Those parts of the circuit can be connected to a suitable source of A.C. voltage by the plug 410 which has prongs 412 and 414.

The numeral 380 denotes a stepdown transformer that provides low voltage for the lamp 366. The terminals of the primary winding of that transformer are connected to the conductors 488 and 450 in FIG. 18 by conductors 453 and 451, respectively. Since both of those conductors are directly connected to the prongs of the plug 410, the lamp 366 will be energized whenever that plug is held within an appropriate electrical socket.

The numeral 382 denotes the coil of a relay, and that coil can be energized to close a pair of normally-open contacts 384. One of those contacts is connected to conductor 436 by conductor 628 while the other of those contacts is connected to conductor 594. A conductor 402 has one end thereof connectable to one terminal of a source of D.C., and has the other end thereof connected to one terminal of the light-sensitive cell 368 by resistor 383 and relay coil 382. A conductor 404 can connect the other terminal of the light-sensitive cell 368 to the other terminal of that source of D.C. For convenience and simplicity, that source of D.C. can be the power supply for the unit 426 in FIG. 19. A Zener diode 386 is connected to the junction between resistor 383 and coil 382, and it is also connected to the conductor 404. That diode will maintain a desirable voltage across the coil 382 and the light-sensitive cell 368.

The numeral 624 denotes a time delay relay which has a pair of normally-closed contacts 606 and a stall-type motor. An actuator is mounted on the output shaft of that motor, and that actuator will res-pond .to rotation of that output shaft to cause the contacts 606 to open. As that armature opens those contacts, it will be held against further rotation; and thereupon the motor will stall and will cause the armature to continue to hold the contacts '606 open as long as the motor is energized. When that motor is de-energized the output shaft of the motor, and the actuator mounted thereon, will be restored to normal position by a returning spring. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor of the relay 624 runs about thirty seconds before the actuator on the output shaft thereof opens the contacts 606. Such a length of time is many times longer than the normal time cycle of the bill-transporting device, and yet it is short enough to prevent undue running of the motor of that bill-transporting device. One commercially-available tim-er of this type is made by the Struthers Dunn Company.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, the numeral 420 denotes a feeler that has ears at the upper end thereof which confront the inner faces of the plates 126 and, 130. Nut and bolt combinations 418 extend through alined openings in those ears and in those plates to maintain that feeler in assembled relation with those plates while permitting ready oscillation of that feeler relative to those plates. The feeler 420 has a narrow, elongated, bill-receiving portion 422, and that feeler has shoulders 427 adjacent the upper end of that bill-receiving portion. The bill-receiving portion 422 is narrower than the slots 111 and 56, respectively, in the platens 94 and 50, but the Shoulders 427 project outwardly beyond those portions of platen 94 which define the slot 111; and hence those shoulders limit the oscillation of the feeler in the clockwise direction. Normally the shoulders 427 abut the upper face of the platen 94 and the bill-receiving portion 422 extends down through the slots 111 and 56. At such time, the feeler 420 permits the actuator of a switch 630, held by a bracket 416 secured to the plate 126, to move to a position where the movable contact of that switch is in engagement with the upper fixed contact of that switch in FIG. 18. When a bill raises the feeler 420 to the dottedline position shown in FIG. 21, that feeler will cause the actuator of that switch to move that movable contact into engagement with the lower fixed contact of that switch in FIG. 18.

The lower end of the bill-receiving portion 422 has a bend 424 adjacent the bottom thereof, and that bend forms a smoothly-rounded surface that will not snag a bill which passes under the bill-receiving portion 422 when the feeler is in the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 21. In its normal position, the feeler 422 inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right, and hence it inclines in the direction in which a bill must move as that bill moves toward the rear plate 42. This is desirable because it facilitates the raising of that feeler by the leading edge of an inserted bill.

The feeler 420 will be held up in the dotted-line position of FIG. 21 until after the inserted bill has moved completely beyond the bend 424 in the bill-receiving portion 422 of that feeler; and this means that the movable contact of the switch 630 will be held in engagement with the lower fixed. contact of that switch in FIG. 18 until after the inserted bill has moved completely beyond the bend 424 in the bill-receiving portion 422 of that feeler. After the trailing edge of that bill moves beyond the bend 424 in the bill-receiving portion 422, the feeler 420 will fall back to its normal position and the movable contact of the switch 630 will re-engage the upper fixed contact in FIG. 18. At this time, the bill-receiving portion 422 will be inclining away from the direction in which a bill would have to move if that bill were to be withdrawn from the bill-transporting device by a patron. This means that if a patron attached a thread, tape or other member to a bill and tried to withdraw that bill after that bill had passed beyond the feeler 420, any such attempt would cause that bill to jam the feeler even more solidly into bill-obstructing position.

Whenever the bill-transporting device shown in FIG. 1 is at rest, the spring 222 will pull the Connecting rod 214 to the right, as shown by FIG. 3, and will thus cause the U-shaped bracket 206 to rotate the U-shaped bracket 196 to its raised position. As a result, whenever the billtransporting device of FIG. 1 is at rest, the pivot 202 and the timing belt pulleys 204 thereon will be in raised lposition. This means that the leading edges of the timing belts 270 will be above, and out of engagement with, the

- leading edges of the timing belts.272; and this is desirable because it facilitates the ready introduction of a bill between those leading edges.

At this time, the spring 356 will pull the rocker arm 350 in the counter clockwise direction, and will thus pull the connecting rod 352 to the position shown by FIG. 2. That connecting rod will hold the U-shaped bracket 354 in the raised position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 15, and will thus hold the gate 370 in the raised position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 15. This means that the opening 374 in that gate will be alined with the opening 38 in the front plate 36 and will also be alined with the space between platens 50 and 94. As a result, a patron can easily introduce the leading edge of a bill through the openings 38 and 374 and into the space between the platens 50 and 94.

Also at this time, a spring within the solenoid 330 holds the plunger 332 of that solenoid in the extended position shown by FIG. 2. That plunger will act through the connecting rod 334 and through the carrier 323 to hold the soft-faced roller 326 below and out of engagement with the magnetic head 244. However, whenever that solenoid is energized, its plunger 332 will be retracted and will act through the connecting rod 334 4and the carrier 323 to force the soft-faced roller 326 upwardly toward the magnetic head. That soft-faced roller is readily deformable by the forces exerted by the solenoid 330; and, as la result, that roller will force an inserted bill up against the face of the magnetic head 244 and will then deform itself to assume a concave conguration at the upper face thereof. This assumption of a concave configuration is desirable because it will bow the inserted bill around the face of the magnetic head; and that bowing action is important in assuring full registration of the bill with the air gap of that magnetic head, and in tending to smooth out wrinkles in the bill. The soft-faced roller 326 can rotate readily relative to the pivot 324, and that ready rotation will minimize the frictional drag which is applied to the inserted bill during the sensing of that bill.

v Whenever the currency detector provided by the present invention is at rest, the `electrical components of that currency detector will be in the positions shown by FIGS. 18 and 19. At such time the terminal 412 of the plug 410 will be directly connected to the fixed contacts of the normally-open switches 274, 278, 286 and 298 by conductors 452 and 450, to the movable contacts of the normally open contacts 470 and 472 adjacent relay coil 476 by conductor 452 and junctions 598 and 468, to the movable contact of the normally open contacts 586 adjacent the relay coil 578 by conductor 452 and junction 598 and conductor 480 and junction 481 and conductor 580, to one terminal of transformer 380 by conductors 452, 450 and 451, and to the movable contact of the normally closed contacts 524 adjacent the relay coil 520 by the conductor 452, the junction 598, the conductor `480, the junction 481 and the conductor 432. The terminal 412 will be connected to the movable contact of the switch 290 by the conductor 452 and junction 598 and conductor 480 and junction 481 `and conductor 432 and the normally closed contacts 524 adjacent the relay coil 520 and conductor 434; and that terminal will be connected to the xed relay contact 384 by the movable and upper fixed contacts ofthe switch 290 and by con- 18 ductors 436 and 628. In addition, that terminal will be connected to the fixed contact 530 adjacent the relay Vcoil 528 by conductor 452, junction 598, conductor 480, junction 481, conductor 432, contacts 524, conductor 434, the movable and upper xed 4contacts of the switch 290 and conductor 436. The movable relay contact 384 will be connected to the terminal 414 of the plug 410 by conductor 594, rectifier 540, serially-connected resistor 538 and relay coil 528, junctions 542, 572, 582 and 599, yand conductor 490.

At this time, a patron can readily insert the leading edge of a bill 400 between the leading edges of the upper and lower timing belts 270 and 272. The upstanding sides and end of the bracket 338 will help the patron effect proper placement of that bill. As the leading edge of that bill moves into register with the openings 55 land 123, respectively, inthe upper and lower platens 50 and 94, it will interrupt the beam of light that normally passes from the lamp 366 to the light-sensitive cell 368. Thereupon, the resistance of that cell will increase to the point where the coil 382 will be unable t-o hold the relay contacts 384 apart; and those contacts will close and energize the relay coil 528 via conductor 452, junction 598, conductor 480, junction 481, conductor 432, contacts 524, conductor 434, the movable and upper xed contacts lof switch 290, conductors 436 and 628, nowclosed relay contacts 384, conductor 594, rectifier 540, serially-connected resistor 538 and relay coil 528, junctions 542, 572, 582 and 590, and conductor 490. As current flows through the serially-connected resistor 538 and relay coil S28, the condenser 536 will become charged. The current will continue to flow through the serially-connected resistor 538 and relay c-oil 528 as long as any part of the bill is in register with the openings 55 and 123, respectively, in the platens 50 and 90; but after that bill has been moved far enough in the forward direction to move its trailing edge beyond those openings, the cell 368 will -again receive light from the lamp 366 and the coil 382 will separate the relay contacts 384. Thereupon the condenser 536 will discharge through the serially-connected resistor 538 and relay coil 528 to keep that coil energized for a predetermined period of time. The duration of that period of time will be determined by the values of the resistor 538 and of the condenser 536; and that period of time will preferably be less than one half of a second. The overall result is that the relay coil 528 will be energized and will be kept energized for a short, 'but adequate period of time.

` The energization of the relay coil 528 will enable that coil to shift the movable contact 532 down into engagement with the Xe-d contact 530. That shifting will energize the solenoid 230 via conductor 452, junction 598, conductor 480, junction 481, conductor 432, normally-closed contacts 524, conductor 434, the movable and upper lixed contacts of switch 290, conductor 436, contacts 530 and 532, junctions 570 and 600, conductor 429, junction 482, normally-closed timer contacts 606, junction 484, solenoid 230, junction 486, conductor 483, and conductor 490. Thereupon the solenoid 230 will retract its plunger 228 and rotate the rocker arm 224 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, thereby shifting the connecting rod 214 toward the front plate 36. Such shifting of the connecting rod 214 will permit the upwardly extending arm 207 of the bracket 206 to move forwardly and release the holding force which it normally applies to the U-shaped bracket 196. At this time, the springs 208 will act upon the U-shaped bracket 196 and rotate that bracket in the counter clockwise direc,- tion about the piv-ot 198; and this means that the pivot 202 with its timing belt pulleys 204 will be forced to move downwardly. Those pulleys will cause the leading edges of the upper timing belts 270 to press the leading edge of the inserted bill into intimate engagement with the leading edges of the lower timing belts 272. As the solenoid 230 retracts its plunger 228, the switch actuator 234 will be rotated in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 3; and that rotation will close the switch 232. The closing of that switch will complete a circuit from conductor 452 via junction 598, conductor 480, junction 481, conductor 432, contacts 524, conductor 434, the movable and upper contacts of switch 299, conductor 436, contacts 530 and 532, junctions 570 and 600 conductor 429, junction 482, timer contacts 606, junction 484, switch 232, capacitor 190, the phase winding of the motor 188, junctions 492, 4'94 and 486, and conductors 488 and 490. The closing of the switch 232 also completes a circuit through the main winding of the motor 188 via conductor 452, junction 598, conductor 480, junction 481, conductor 432, contacts 524, conductor 434, the movable and upper fixed contacts of the switch 290, conductor 436, contacts 530 and 532, junctions 570 and 600, conductor 429, junction 482, timer contacts 606, junction 484, switch 232, conductor 496, contacts 558 and 560, junction 576, conductor 498, the main winding of the motor 188, conductor 50i), contacts 554 and 552, junctions 574, 572, 582 and 590 and conductor 490. As a result, the motor 188 will start rotating in such a direction as to cause the timing1 belts 270 and 272 to start moving the inserted bill 400 toward the rear of the bill-transporting device.

It will be noted that the initial connection of th-e solenoid 230 and of the motor 188 to the terminal 412 of the plug 410 is through the relay contacts 530 and 532; and this means that a further connection must be established because the time constant of condenser 536 and resistor 538 is less than one half of a second and hence the contacts 530 and 532 can separate in less than onehalf of a second after the trailing edge of the bill has moved beyond the openings 55 and 123. The bill-actu ated switches 274 and 278 provide that further connection for the solenoid 230 and the motor 188 when the timing belts 270 and 272 move the leading edges of the inserted bill 400 into engagement with the actuators 276 and 280 of those switches.

As the inserted bill 400 causes the actuators 276 and 280 to close the switches 274 and 278, a circuit will be established via conductors 452 and 450, switches 274 and 278, conductor 502, conductor 429, junction 482, timer contacts 606, junction 484, solenoid 230, junction 486, and conductors 488 and 490. Those switches will also complete a second circuit via conductors 452 and 450 switches 274 and 278, conductor 582, conductor 429, junction 482, timer contacts 606, junction 484, switch 232, capacitor 190, the phase winding of the motor 188, junctions 492, 494 and 486, and conductors 488 and 490. Those switches also complete a third circuit via conductors 452 and 450, switches 274 and 278, conductor 502, conductor 429, junction 482, timer contacts 606, junction 484, switch 232, conductor 496, contacts 558 and 560, junction 576, conductor 498, the main winding of the motor 188, conductor 500, contacts 554 and 552, junctions 574, 572, 582 and 590, and conductor 490. The overall result is that the bill-actuated switches 274 and 278 keep the solenoid 230 and the motor 188 energized; and those switches will keep that solenoid energized as long as either of them remains closed. Further, those switches will keep the motor 188 energized as long as the contacts 558 and 560 and the contacts 554 and 552 remain closed and either of the switches 274 and 278 remains closed. Consequently, although the relay coil 528 will become de-energized within one-half of a second after the trailing edge of the inserted bill moves beyond the openings 55 and 123, the solenoid 230 and the motor 188 will continue to remain energized.

The timing belts 270 and 272 will continue to move the inserted bill 400 toward the rear of the bill-transporting device; and the leading edge of that bill will soon engage and move the actuator 284 of the switch 282 and thereby close that switch. Thereupon a circuit will be completed via conductors 452 and 450, switches `274 and 278, conductor 502, conductor 429, junctions 600 and 570, contacts 564 and 566, junction 568, conductor 604, switch 282, solenoid 330, junctions 494 and 486, and conductors 488 and 490. The resulting energization of the solenoid 330 will retract the plunger 332 and pull the connecting rod 334 toward the rear of the bill-transporting device, thereby rotating the carrier 323 in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 2. That rotation causes the soft-faced roller 326 to engage the lower face of the inserted bill 400 and to press the upper face of that bill aga-inst the convex face of the magnetic head 244. The plunger 332 will fully seat itself, and it will thereby minimize the number of stray magnetic flux lines generated by the solenoid 330. As that plunger fully seats itself, it will apply such a strong upwardly-directed force to the roller 326 that the uppermost portion of the face of that roller will not only deform to conform to the convex curvature of the face of the magnetic head 244 but will also force that magnetic head to move upwardly. The spring 246 will yield to permit the mounting 242 for the magnetic head 244 to move upwardly and thereby permit the magnetic head to move upwardly. That spring will, however, exert a downwardly-directed force on the magnetic head 244 which is strong enough to urge the face of that magnetic head into intimate engagement with the inserted bill 400 and to keep the uppermost portion of the face of the roller 326 deformed.

The actuator 284 for the switch 282 is set far enough away from the front plate 36 to enable the leading edge of the bill 400 to pass between the magnetic head 244 and the soft-faced roller 326 'before that leading edge moves the actuator 284. As a result, the magnetic head 244 and the roller 326 can not cause the leading edge Iof the bill 400 to crumple or roll up. However, the actuator 284 is set close enough to the front plate 36 to enable the leading edge of the bill 400 to move that actuator before the portrait background of that bill reaches the magnetic head 244. As a result, the magnetic head 244 will engage and sense the portrait background of the bill 400.

By the time the inserted bill 400 is moved into engagement with the actuator 284 of switch 282, that bill will have been raised to the desired synchronous speed; and the engagement of the roller 326 with that bill and the engagement of that bill with the magnetic head 244 will not keep that bill from continuing to move at synchronous speed. The continued movement of the inserted bill 460 past the magnetic head 244 will cause voltage variations to be generated in the coil of that magnetic head, all as disclosed in the said copending Smith et al. application. Those voltage variations will be suitably amplified by a tuned amplifier in the unit 426 of FIG. 19 and will cause the control element in that unit to produce two validating signals, all as disclosed in the said copending Smith et al. application.

The first of those two validating signals will energize the relay coil 428; and thereupon contact 439 will engage contact 44). At such time a circuit will be completed via conductors 452 and 450, switches 274 and 278, conductor 582, conductor 429, junctions 600 and 430, contacts 439 and 440, contacts 456 and 454, junction 448, relay coil 446, junctions 466, 480 and 590, and conductor 490. Relay contacts 442 and 444 will close; and the contacts 444 will establish a holding circuit for the coil 446.

As that first validating signal passes, the relay coil 428 will become de-energized and the contact 439 will move back up into engagement with the contact 438; and such engagement will complete a circuit via conductors 452 and 450, switches 274 and 278, conductor 502, conductor 429, junctions 600 and 430, contacts 439 and 438, nowclosed contacts 442, junction 464, relay coil 462, junctions 466, 480 and 590, and conductor 490. Contacts 460 will then close to establish a holding circuit for coil 462; and the contact 456 will move down into engagement with 

1. A BILL-TRANSPORTING DEVICE THAT HAS A PLATE, A SECOND PLATE THAT IS SPACED FROM THE FIRST SAID PLATE TO DEFINE A SPACE THROUGH WHICH A BILL CAN BE MOVED, BILL-GRIPPING MEMBERS WHICH CAN GRIP A BILL AND MOVE SAID BILL FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY THROUGH SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID PLATES, A MOTOR THAT CAN BE ENERGIZED TO MOVE SAID BILLGRIPPING MEMBERS, A SLOT IN THE FIRST SAID PLATE, A CONICAL RELIEF AT EACH END OF SAID SLOT, A SECOND SLOT IN SAID SECOND PLATE, A CONICAL RELIEF AT EACH END OF SAID SECOND SLOT, SAID SLOTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IN REGISTER WITH EACH OTHER, A PIVOT, A BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT THAT IS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID PIVOT AND THAT CAN ROTATE RELATIVE TO SAID PLATES, SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT HAVING A BILL-RECEIVING PORTION THAT CAN EXTEND INTO AND THROUGH SAID SLOTS IN SAID PLATES AND THEREBY EXTEND THROUGH SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID PLATES, SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT HAVING SHOULDERS THAT CAN ENGAGE THOSE PORTIONS OF THE FIRST SAID PLATE WHICH DEFINE THE FIRST SAID SLOT AND THEREBY LIMIT ROTATION OF SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT, SAID SHOULDERS HOLDING SAID BILL OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT SO THE BILL-RECEIVING PORTION THEREOF INCLINES IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION AND CAN RESPOND TO THE LEADING EDGE OF A BILL MOVING IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION TO MOVE OUT OF SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND CAN RESPOND TO MOVEMENT OF THE TRAILING EDGE OF A BILL BEYOND IT IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION TO MOVE DOWN INTO POSITION BEHIND SAID BILL, SAID BILL-RECEIVING PORTION THEREAFTER RESPONDING TO MOVEMENT OF SAID BILL IN THE REARWARD DIRECTION TO MOVE SOLIDLY INTO BILL-OBSTRUCTING POSITION, A SWITCH ADJACENT SAID BILLOBSTRUCTING ELEMENT, A GATE THAT SENSES FOR THE PRESENCE OF A STURDY TAPE, THREAD OR ELEMENT ATTACHED TO SAID BILL, A GATE SWITCH THAT IS CONTROLLED BY SAID GATE AND THAT IS CLOSED IF A STURDY TAPE, THREAD OR ELEMENT IS ATTACHED TO SAID BILL AND THUS LIMITS MOVEMENT OF SAID GATE, SAID GATE BEING SPACED FROM SAID BILL-RECEIVING PORTION OF SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF THAT PORTION OF SAID BILL WHICH ENGAGES SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT AND PASSES BEYOND SAID GATE SO SAID GATE CAN SENSE FOR THE PRESENCE OF A STURDY TAPE, THREAD OR ELEMENT BEFORE SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT CAN ACTUATE THE FIRST SAID SWITCH, A VEND SWITCH, AND A MOTOR-REVERSING RELAY, THE FIRST SAID SWITCH BEING ACTUATED WHEN A BILL MOVES IN THE FORWRD DIRECTION AND ROTATES SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT, THE FIRST SAID SWITCH WHEN ACTUATED COACTING WITH SAID GATE SWITCH WHEN CLOSED TO ENERGIZE SAID MOTOR-REVERSING RELAY, THE FIRST SAID SWITCH WHEN ACTUATED SERVING TO KEEP SAID VEND SWITCH FROM EFFECTING A VEND AND THEREBY COACTING WITH SAID VEND SWITCH TO PREVENT THE EFFECTING OF A VEND UNTIL AFTER THE BILL HAS MOVED FORWARDLY PAST SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT AND HAS PERMITTED SAID BILL-OBSTRUCTING ELEMENT AND SAID FIRST SWITCH TO RETURN TO THEIR NORMAL POSITIONS, SAID CONICAL RELIEFS KEEPING BILLS PASSING THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID PLATES FROM JAMMING AS THEY MOVE RELATIVE TO SAID SLOTS. 